The Osceola times., 1887-12-03
SOME DOGS.
a Few Old and q Few New Sto-
ries
Illustrating Canine sigaclty, Reasoa and
Affection.

At a meeting of the British ASsocia-
ton at Aberdeen, Sir John Lubbock
read a very interesting paper on the
Intelligence of Dogs, the main point of
his discourse being that, in place of
trying to make the dog understand us,
we should ondeavor TO understand the
dog. Sir John illustrated his lecture
BY an anecdote of his own dog, which,
he told his hearers, was gifted with in
telIigencc enough TO choose correctly
out of seven cards denoting the differ
ent days of the week, that one which
represented the actually present day.
81 Johns dog, in fact, is very like our
old friend the 'learned pig of the
fair IN point of intelligence; but it has
occurred to the writer, who has n con-
siderable acquaintance amongst dogs
that it might be worth while to make
public few dog stories illustrative of
canine intelligence, each of which, he
thinks, IS in no way inferior TO that
told hy Sir John Lubbock. Without
yuuching for the complete truth Of all
the following anecdotes, the writer
imagInes, from his own experience Of
the animal, that where he has not been
able to fully verify facts, there Is at
least no reason to doubt the bona iides
Of those who have related the following
incidents:
The first dog Of which shall speak
belonged Che is dead now to an old
friend Of mine. He was a fine collie,
called Nero. Like some other dogs of
my acquaintance, he was in the habit
Of going to the butchers each morning
with his master, who always gave
Nero his purchases in fsh-basket, to
be by him carried home. One day it
occurred TO the master that Nero
might as well be taught to go to market
by himself. SO he began each morning
to say the word Butcher" very
solemnly to Nero Immediately before
setting OUT TO which word Nero grayely
listened, slowly wagging his tail the
while, This went on for few weeks
with clockwork regularity. Then came
awet day Nero was given the basket
rs usual, with n note In it asking the
butchcr-who had been warned before
hand-to exchange it for pound of
Steak, and taken to the door. Then
Ms master said to him Butcher, "
ehnnclating the word even more
solemnly than usual. Nero looked
thoughtful and hesitated. He was then
mouoned off in the accustomed direc-
uon' Presently he went few steps
ana looked back. Butcher Nero,
butcher, repeated his instructor; and
eventually the dog, after two or three
iase starts, went of with rather de-
!ec'ed appearance, and my friend went
'nuoors to await the result In due
eine Nero returned with the steak, aud
'or year or two afterwards went To
"e butchers almost daily, always
uinging back his purchases without
mishap.
90 many stories have been current
u,ufihg recent years of canine sagaciiy,
a. a"U one IS prepared TO believe a great
eeM with regard to the doings and
seuSiole proceedings of the 'friend OF
man A curious story of this kind
Ass lately been told by the secretary
n II Alngs College Hospital, London.
- ~ states that the porter in charge OF
Wv entrance hall was one day lately
a.'lae'ed by the loud barking of ~ dog
~ ~ tue door of the hospital. He found
;, s'ere three dogs, one very much in.
."'su and exhausted by loss of blood
"' other two, who, IL seems. had at
ted a"s'ed The porter's attention by th.n
a,hihg' evidently friends of his. with
hung partieulariy-ttrsrrattrr-w WY
%' a'eil' Tor they ran avg as as, soon, ~
nv, a'r object was accenplishcd, Tbs
nlared dog had apIiffa,.Aly scut hi,
~ w'tn piece ofgfss. ana .iSe, wa'
% ~ sceu by blood-ma "a . tho spo'
Iss;sss ',S1;Is q ne accisent hapi,sas.i rro..